The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-12-17

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the furry heap wriggled little; then, the
sun persisting in keeping it's place, a
dark, shining eye opened wide; and, with
decided sneeze, huge black head
ending in grayish-white snout, raised
itself and looked around.
At the same time, bunch Of the wool
seemed to roll off from the rest Two
animals clumsily but softly rose to their
feet, and stood in silence a large black
bear and her cub.
The latter was the image of his shaggy
mother, except that he was grayer. Un--
like human folks, bears begin with their
gray hairs, and gradually grow to q
glossy black. The mother knew this,
and was not at all disturbed by the hoary
coating of her son.
After rejecting moment, and assur-
ing herself that she had no more uncom-
Portable neighbors than her old friends,
the thrush, the woodpecker, and the chick
ADDE'S, she bent down her huge head
and proceeded to lick her cub carefully
from head to foot.
Like other children, he objected Sc
riously to his morning toilet,-so much
so, indeed, that his mother felt obliged to
box his ears several times with the fiat
of her paw, the claws being carefully
drawn back. She made few gruff re-
marks to him also; but it was uncomfort-
able to growl and lap at the same time, SO
she contented herself with not ungen-
tie pat now and then, as have said.
The troublesome operation being at
last finished, the cub struggled away,
shook himself awkwsrdly, sneezed exact
ly as he had eeen his mother do, and
waddled off in search of adventure, occa-
sionslly tumbling over roots, and turn
ing his head to see that he was not left
alone.
The larger bear now began steady
course down the side of the mountain,
taking few berries now and then as she
walked. The cub followed her as best
climbed over and expressing himself
loudly when he hit his nose, as he some
times did, against projecting stump or
boulder.
Evergreen growth gave place to hard
wood. They entered maple orchard, and
the old bear stepped more and more eau
tiously. She had had good supper the
night before, having found rabbit Gu
riously entsngled in some bushes. This
morning she walked down to the brook,
and drank freely of the clear, delicious
water. She even waded into it little
way, and tried to induce her cub to do
the same; but he firmly declined to wet
even the tips OF his furry feet His little
gray snout, however, he plunged into the
water, and took long draught
Crossing a corner Of the meadow, the
bears re-entered the forest, and moved
off in southerly direction, toward GER
tain clearing of which they knew, where
| huckleberries could be had for the gath
ering. This, they reached in about an
| hour.
The old bear telt drowsy after her
long walk; and, having eaten about q
quart of berries for breakfast, she lay
down in the shade Of clump of young
naples, and soon was fast asleep.
Several hours passed away. Meanwhile,
master cub became impatient and start
ed off on an exploring expedition of his
own. He had all the huckleberries he
wanted, and walked little way into the
woods. A curious buzzing sound attract
ed his attention; and at the same moment
faint, delicionsly sweet odor was watt
ed to his nostrils.
He snuffed the air eagerly, and pres
emily espied hole in large decayed
tree, about fifteen feet from the ground.
Around the hole was whirring swarm
of insects; within, he felt sure was a rich
treat.
1 am afraid he forgot all about his
mother. He had never climbed a tree in
his life, nor tasted drop of honey; but
he did not hesitate a moment. Rearing
himself upon his fat little legs, he Rugged
the trunk with all his might and began
slowly to work his way upward. The
bees soon discovered him and gathered
noisily around his head. BY the time he
reached the entrance to their nest, they
had stung him again and again, so that
he was continually obliged to brush them
away from his face with one paw, clinging
tightly to the tree with the three others.
And now what was his horror to hear a
sound that made him tremble from head
to foot. 1t was dogs bark, and, imme.
diately atterward, girls voice calling,
"Stop, Brunei down, down, sir!'
The cub, in his fright squealed as loud
ly as he could; and began to back down
the tree. A crashing in the bushes pres
emily treasured him, for he knew his
mother was hurrying toward him from
the huckleberry patch.
Edna Braman had loitered along the
| rOod With a haouu hanrk Waa har